Bundle tier machine



June 1934- .1. J. BACHMAYER BUNDLE TIER MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1932 4 Shets-Sheet 1 89m A jQac/Zmayac 44 7;

June 12, 1934. .1. J. BACHMAYER 1,962,703

BUNDLE TIER MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuentoz eme J/z @amm a:

dbbozmq June 12, 1934. J. J. BACHMAYER, 1,962,703

BUNDLE TIER MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3- H 9 3mm 1 ewe M5). flaw ma a:

June 12, 1934. .1. J. BACHMAYER 1,962,703

BUNDLE TIER MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 amnion I. Me I 7240mm ac duo! M1 Patented June 12, 1934 BUNDLE TIER MACHINE Joseph J. Bachmayer, Blisstield, Mich., aaalgnor to The National Bundle Tyer Company, Blissfield, 'Mich a corporation of Michigan Application January 18, I932, Serial No. 587,389

16 Claims. (Cl. 100-31) My invention has for its object toprovide an eflicient and simple bundle tying machine wherein a cord is wrapped around a bundle and drawn and tied to produce a tightly tied package. The

5 invention particularly relates to improvements in bundle tying machines.

Heretofore tying machines having tying needles and knotting bills, one for placing the string about a package and the other for knotting the string, have been used. My invention provides, in connection with such machines, a table having surfaces that cooperate with other parts of the machine to locate the bundle in a more efiicient tying position. The invention also provides a novel means for preventing injury either to the bundle or to the operator in case the needle strikes a part of the bundle or the hand or arm of the operator whereby the needle is disconnected from the driving mechanism to prevent damage that might otherwise occur. It also provides a novel centering means to insure location of the needle in a proper position for the placement of the bundle in advance of the string enfolding movement of the needle. It also provides a tension means for tightening the enwrapping string and for loosening the string to enable free movement of the string when the package is pushed against the string to produce a part of the wrapping operation and a subsequent tightening of the cord as the needle performs its enwrapping operation to produce a tightly tied bundle. It also provides a means for insuring close positioning of the portions of the string or cord and prevents the formation of a loose cord wrapping by reason of accidental or improper displacement of the bundle, particularly the edge of the bundle with reference to the knotting mechanism. It operates to bring the portions that form the ends of the string of the wrapped package close to each other when tied to prevent the formation of a loose or slack string wrapping.

The invention consists in other features and advantages which will appear upon examination of the application and the drawings. Structures containing the invention may partake of different forms and may be varied in their details and still embody the invention. To illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected a bundle tying machine embodying the invention as an example of the various structures, and the details of such structures, that 'contain the invention, and shall describe the selected structure hereinafter, it being understood that variations may be made and that certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features of the invention and without departing from the spirit of the invention. The particular structure selected is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side viewof the machine. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine when the parts are shown in certain positions. Fig. 4 is a view of the machine when the parts are shown in positions other than that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 5-5 indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the machine. Fig. 7 illustrates apart of the cord tension device. Fig. 8 is a view of a section of the table top taken onthe plane of the line 8--8 indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a view of the table top taken on the plane of the line 99 indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a front view of the machine. Fig. 11 illustrates an enlarged view of the needle or knotting bill and means for locating end portions of the string contiguous to each other to insurethe production of a tight w app g.

The bundle tying machine illustrated in the drawings has a housing that constitutes a supporting frame for the mechanism. The mechanism comprises an arm that is manipulated by a mechanism located at the back of the machine, the arm having an overhanging part that extends towards the front of the machine and terminates above substantially the center of the machine. The arm is provided with a needle that operates to locate the string in proper relation to the tying mechanism and inconjunction with the operation of the arm produces the package surrounding movement to completely wrap the package and bring opposite end portions of the string in proper relation to the tying mechanism to enable the tying mechanism to tie the string.

The string wrapping movement is partially accomplished by the movement of the package relative to the needle and the knotting mechanism. This may be done manually or by the operation of the machine or automatically. In the form of construction shown in the drawings, the table top 2 is so constructed that shifting the package from one portion of the table top to another portion produces a partial wrapping movement of the string and, at the same time, aids in the location of the package with reference to the needle and the tying mechanism. The table top 2 is supported on the housing 1 and preferably overhangs the housing substantially as shown in the figures.

The table top has a central opening 3 through which protrudes the clutch controlling arm 4 and in which is located the cutting bar or plate 5. The'cutting bar or plate 5 is provided with a slot 6. One end of the plate 5 is provided with a cutting edge 7. The needle 8 of the machine is located on the end of the bent overhanging arm 9 that extends from above the back part of the machine to above the opening 3, so as to locate the needle 8 above the cutting bar or plate 5 and leave a wide open space for insertion of bundles ofdifferent sizes. The needle 8 and the cutting bar or plate 5 are constructed similarto constructions well known in the art, but their location, with reference to the table top, enables them to efliciently perform operations that are believed to be novel.

The table top 2 is formed of four portions that are relatively inclined to aid in the preliminary wrapping operation of the string. The string 10 extends from the needle 8 and through the slot 6 of the cutting bar or plate 5. The string 10 may extend substantially vertical above the central portion of the table top 2. One of the portions 15 of the table top 2 is located substantially horizontal and is connected to an inclined portion 16 by two inclined;- portions 17 and 18 that extend from front'to back. The portions extend away from the opening 3 in which the cutter bar or plate is located. The portions 17 and 18 are inclined relative to the portions 15 and 16 and have a sharp slope relative to the inclination of the portion 16 to the portion 15. The portion 17 has a much sharper slope than the portion 18. The portions 1'7 and 18 constitute a definite step downward from the portion 15 to the inclined portion 16. They surround the tying mechanism and particularly the cutter bar 5. i

The part 18 preferably has a longer base to its slope and is connected to the portions 15 and 16 by curved surfaces of small curvature to produce a gradual increased inclination between the interconnected surfaces and thus enable sliding a package from the portion 16 to the portion 15. This enables a quick turning and a sliding movement of the package to the portion 15 for a second tying operation at right angles to the first tie of the package.

The bar or plate 5 has an, inclined surface 20 which approximates that of the inclined edges of that portion of the opening 3 in which the cutter bar or plate 5 is located; The surface 20 of the cutter bar 5 is preferably located slightly above, or flush with, the edge portions of the part of the opening 3 in which the bar 5 is located. Also, the bar 5 has a curved portion 21 that joTns the inclined surface 20 with the body portion of the cutting bar or plate 5. The rounded surface 21 is located slightly above, or flush with, the surface of the portion 15 of the table top 2.

The clutch lever or bar 4 operates, in the well 7 known manner in the art, to cause initiation of the movement of the bundle wrapping and tying mechanism. It is located in the part of the opening 3 that is formed in the portion 15 of the table top 2. It extends slightly above the portion 15 to be engaged by the bundle as it is moved into bundle tying position.

In the bundle tying operation the bundle is placed on the portion 15 of the table top 2 and is then manually slid over the table top 2 by the operator towards the inclined portion 16 and, in so doing, the, bundle depresses the clutch controlling arm 4, moves over the round edge 21 of the cutter bar 5, engages the string 10, moves the string with it and, at the same time, tilts downward as the edge of the package passes over the inclined portions 17 and 18 until the following edge of the package slides down the inclined surface 20 and thus the package is automatically located so that its lower edge is positioned against the inclined surface 20 of the cutter bar 5 and near the cutting edge '7 of the cutter bar. Preferably, the portions 1'7 and 18 are inclined to the front and back edges of the table top 2 and the two portions 17 and 18 form a substantially vshaped surface that extends across the table top from front to back, the cutter bar 5 and particularly the surface 2Q of the cutter bar being located at the apex of the surface. The portions 1'7 and 18 thus enable ease in manual manipulation of the package and provide for irregularities of the package and, particularly, for rearward projections of portions of the package and enables the location of a central portion of the package substantially in contact with, or contiguous to, the cutting edge of the cutter bar 5 notwithstanding such projection. This enables the formation of the knot very close to the package while, if a knot is formed remote from the package, a considerable slack is produced in the string after the knot is formed and the string is severed, which produces a slack, loose wrapping.

In addition to the a afforded by the arrangement of the surfaces of portions of the table top 2 and the cutter bar 5, there is provided a string tucker 25 that engages the portion of the string at the needle and brings it close to the edge of the package, notwithstanding any overhanging or loose projecting part of the package, to produce the formation of a tightly wrapped string.

The tucker 25 is connected to the needle 8 at a point below the needle and so that, as the needle 8 locates itself with respect to the knotting mechanism to enable the knotting mechanism to perform the knotting operation, the end of the tucker 25 slides along the inclined surface 20 of the cutter bar 5 and depresses the portion of the string located contiguous to the needle towards the knotting point of the string. It crowds in the projecting portion of the package or it pushes the edge of the package down so as to locate the lower rearward edge of the package towards the knotting point of the string and prevents the formation of a loose wrapping, al-

though the string may be tightly drawn the loose wrapping occurring by reason of the remoteness of the package from the cutter bar and from the tying mechanism. Thus the tucker-or tongue 25 operates to insure the proper position of the .edge of the package at which the knot is located with reference to the knotting mechanism. The sloping surfaces of the portions 17 and 18 thus coact to insure the general location of the package with reference to the knottingmechanism and the tucker or tongue 25 insures that the package will be brought to a definite position with reference to the cutting edge 7 of the cutter bar and the knotting mechanism to produce a tight wrapping operation of the machine.

The tucker 25 is an oblong elastic sheet steel piece that is secured to the projection 26 formed on the end of the arm 9 and located beneath the curved needle 8. It may be loosely inset and held in a slot formed in the projection 26 or, if desired, one end may be tightly secured and the tucker 25 may be sufiiciently flexible so that, as its outer end edge engages the surface 20 of the cutter bar 5, it will slide along the surface 0 and the body of the tucker will flex to maintain contact between its end edge and the greater part or the length of the surface of the cutter bar 5. insures that the corner of the package will be ocated close to the knotting point of the string and the placement of the string close against the package as the knot tions. This causes the'mechanism to be operated as the bundles are moved from the portion 15 of the table top 2 over the clutch lever or arm 4 and over the sloping surfaces or the portions 17 and 18, as described above. Thus, the arm 9 is returned to its raised position, while the end 01 the string is held by the knotting mechanism.

The string is thus located in position to be engaged by the succeeding bundles upon the completion of the wrapping and tying operations.

The arm 9 is connected to an arm 28 that is pivotally supported on the bracket 29 by means of the pivot pin 30. The bracket 29 is secured to the back of the housing 1. The arm 28 is connected by means of a link 31 to a jointed arm 32 composed of two parts, 33 and 34, that are pivotally' connected together by the spring pressed pin 35. The pin 35 extends through the arms and has a spring 36 that operates to draw contiguous surfaces of the arms against each other. The lower end of the part 33 is provided with a stop 40 while the lower end of the part 34 has a sloping edge, as at 41, that corresponds to a sloping surface 42 of the stop or shoulder formed on the part 33 of the arm 32, to limit the swinging movement of the part 34 relative to the part 33 in one direction about the pivot pin 35. The part 34 has a raised portion 43 and the part 33 has a finger portion 44. When the part 34 moves from its alignment with the part 32 about the pivot pin 35, such movement is frictionally resisted by the interengagement of the raised portion 43 and the finger 44 produced by the spring 36, that is, when the arm 32 breaks joint.

The arm 32 is operated by means of a shaft 48 that extends through the rear wall of the housing 1 and the bracket 29 and, through the operation of the link 31, swings the arm 28, which supports the needle arm 9, to and from its raised position above the table top 2. If, however, the needle bar strikes the package or the hand of the operator, or other object, the movement of the part 34 of the arm 32 ceases, provided the resistance to the needle is sufilciently great to cause the arm 32 to break joint. This enables the part 33 to complete its oscillatory movement by the operation of the shaft 48 and upon its return the arm 34 will be restored by the engagement of a part of the link 31 with a projecting arm 50 that is rigidly secured to the bracket 29. This I limits the return movement of the part '34 after it has broken joint with the part 33 and insures realignment between the parts 34 and 33 and restoration of the relationship between the mechanism. Thus theknotting mechanism will not perform its operation when the needle strikes an object having suflicient resistance to prevent its entry into the knotting mechanism. The operative mechanism then .ceases and may again be started by depression oi the clutch bar or arm 4.

The arm 50 is a string guiding arm. 'The arm 50 is supported on a bracket 29 to which it is connected by a suitable bracket 51. The string 10 is directed through an eye 52, located on the lower end of the arm 32, through an eye 53 and beneath a member 54, located on the upper end of the arm 50. It also extends through an eye 55 located on the end of an overhanging arm 56 that is connected to the upper end 01 the arm 32. The eye 55 is located in the vertical plane extending at right angles to the overha gi p rtions or the arms 56 and 9 and close to a parallel plane'extending through an eye 57 formed on the arm 9 and through which the string is also threaded. The back of the needle 8 and the end oi ihe needle are provided with eyes 58, 59

and 60 that also guide the string.

As is well known in connection with bundle tier mechanisms of the type illustrated in the drawings, the string is caught in the tying mechanism prior to the severance of the string that surrounds the bundle from the string that is fed through the needle. A tension device operates the member 54 to engage the string at the proper times in the movement of the needle to tighten it about the package. It is of the type well known and is formed to frictionally engage the string 10 between the upperend of the arm 50 and the member 54. The member 54 is drawn towards the end of the arm 50 by means of a bar 6'7 that extends through the arm 50 and is spring member 54 against the string 10 that passes between the end of the arm 50 and the part 54. In order to permit free movement of the string through the eyes when the bundle is passed from the portion 15 of the table top 2 ,to the portion 16, that is, when the bundle is pressed against the part of the string extending between the needle 8 and the table top 2, the string is released from its tension. This occurs when the needle is in its uppermost position, that is, when the arm 28 is located in proximity to the arm 50.

The arm 28 is provided with a cam part '70 that operates upon a lever 71. The lever '71 is pivotally supported by means of the pin '72 that extends through the bracket 51. The lever '71 engages the lower end of the rod 6'7 and raises the rod to release the part 66 from the string 10 when the arm 28 is located in proximity to the arm 50, that is, when the needle is in its uppermost position. When in this position the package to be wrapped will readily draw the string as the package is moved from the portion 15 of the table top to the portion 16. When,

pressed by means of the spring 68 to draw the however, the arm 28 moves to cause the needle to complete the surrounding movement of the string, the levers which release the rod 6'7 and the spring 68 and the member 54, again engages the thread and increases its tension as the needle descends and causes the string surrounding the package to be tightly drawn until the knotting operation is completed. The return movement of the arms may cause a slight slacking of the string which is easily taken up when the succeeding package is slid from the portion 15 to the portion 16 of the table top 2.

The arms 28 and 32 are operated by an arm '75 that is keyed to the shaft 48 and a link '76 that is connected to a. cam '77. The cam '77 is located upon the shaft '78 and may be clutch connected to a gear wheel '79 which is driven by a suitable and tying operation. The cam 77 operates to bring the arms 28 and 32 back to their original starting position. The cam 77 has a depressed sde portion or edge 82 and a roller 83 rides on the edge of the cam 77. The roller 83 is spring pressed against the edge of the cam 77 by means of the spring 85 which is connected to a bell crank lever 86 and to a part of the housing 1. The roller 83 is also connected to the bell crank lever 86. The bell crank lever 86 is supported on the shaft 48, the spring 85 operating to press the roller83 against the edge of the cam 77. The depressed or flattened edge portion of the cam 77 is so located that when the driving mechanism returns tonear the completion of the return strokes of the arms 28 and 32, the roller 83 rides into the depressed portion 82 and the pressure of the spring 85 insures the completion of the return movements of the arms, and also operates to prevent the cam 77 from moving beyond a certain point that might otherwise cause a slight downward movement of the needle before the mechanism is brought to a stop. This insures a uniform starting position for each operation of the mechanism.

In order to absorb the downward swinging movement of the needle and the inertia of the movement of the arm 28 and 32, a suitable spring buffer 91 may be supported upon the bracket 29 which will operate to quickly reduce the speed of the movement of the needle as it enters the tying mechanism and coact with the cam 77 and the link 76 to bring it to a stop and absorb the shock of the change in momentum of the moving parts upon the completion of their strokes.

I claim:

1. In a bundle wrapping and tying mechanism, a needle, a cutter bar, means for supporting the needle above the cutter bar, a table top having portions extending from opposite sides of the cutter bar, one of the said portions inclined relative to the other of the portions, the edge of one of the said portions located below the contiguous edge of the other of the said portions.

2. In a bundle wrapping and tying mechanism, a needle, a cutter bar, means for supporting the needle above the cutter bar, a table top having portions located one above the other and separated by portions that are inclined to one of the first named portions.

3. In a bundle wrapping and tying mechanism, a needle, a cutter bar, means for supporting the needle above the cutter bar, a table top having two portions located one above the other and extending from opposite sides of the cutter bar and a portion joining the contiguous edges of the first named portion, the last named portion located at the cutter bar, one of the first named portions inclined to the other of the first named portions inclined to the other of the first named portions and the portion joining the first named. portions inclined to both of the first named portions.

5. In combination with a needle and a knotting mechanism of a bundle wrapping and tying machine, a table top having two portions located one above the other and extending from opposite sides of the knotting mechanism, and two portions joining contiguous edges of the first named portions, the last named portions inclined relative to each other to form a wedgeshaped surface, the knotting mechanism located in proximity to the apex of the wedge-shaped surface.

6. In combination with a needle and a knotting mechanism of a bundle wrapping and tying machine, a table top having two portions located one above the other and extending from opposite sides of the knotting mechanism, and two portions joining the contiguous edges of the first named portions, the last named portions inclined to the first named portions and to each other, the last named portions forming a wedgeshaped surface, the knotting mechanism located in proximity to the apex of the wedge-shaped surface.

7. In combination with a needle and knotting machine in a bundle wrapping and tying mechanism, a table top having two portions inclined relative to each other, the proximate edges of the said portions located one above the other and extending from opposite sides of the wetting mechanism and two portions joining the contiguous edges of the first named portions and inclined relative to the first named portions and to each other and forming a V-shaped surface extending across the table top, the knotting mechanism located in proximity to the apex of the V-shaped surface.

8. In a bundle Wrapping and tying mechanism, a needle, an arm for operating the needle, a jointed arm connected to the first named arm by a link for moving the first named arm and the needle, the jointed arm having two parts, means for pivotally connecting the parts together and means for frictionally resisting movement of the parts relative to each other and means for limiting the movement of the parts relative to each other when one of the parts is moved in one direction relative to the other, means for driving the jointed arm to swing the first named arm.

9. In a bundle string wrapping and tying mechanism, a needle, an arm for raising and lowering the needle, a member for engaging the string, a spring for pressing the member against the string, the arm having a camv and means operated by the cam for releasing the pressure of the spring when the arm is in its raised position and for causing engagement of the tension member with the string as the needle is lowered.

10. In a bundle wrapping and tying mechanism, a needle, an arm for operating the needle, a link and a cam for moving the arm, means for driving the cam, the cam having a circular edge portion and an edge portion that is depressed from the circle of the circular edge portion, a roller, a spring for pressing the roller against the edge of the cam, the depressed edge of the cam located with reference to the roller for resisting movement of the cam when the arm has completed its return movement by the operation of the said driving means.

11. In a bundle wrapping and tying mechanism, a needle, an arm for operating the needle,

a link for connecting the jointed arm to the first named arm, the jointed arm having two parts, means for pivotally connecting the parts'together and means for frictionally resisting movement of the parts relative to each other and means for limiting the movement of the parts relative to the other when one or the parts is moved in one direction relative to the other, means for driving the jointed arm to-swing the first named arm, a rotatable cam member, means for driving the cam, means for connecting the jointed arm to the cam member for producing oscillatory movements of the jointed arm, the cam member having a circular edge portion and an edge portion that is depressed from the circle of the circular edge portion, a. roller, a spring for pressing the roller against the edge of the cam, the depressed edge portion located with reference to the roller and its connection with the jointed arm for resisting movement of the cam when the jointed arm has completed its return movement by the operation of the said driving means.

12. In a bundle string wrapping and tying mechanism, a needle, an arm for raising and lowering the needle, a string tension member, means for releasing the string from the tension member when the needle is in its raised position and for causing engagement of the tension member with the string as the needle is lowered.

13. In a bundle wrapping and tying mechanism, a needle, a needle arm for moving the needle, a cutter bar, a flexible tongue connected 9. jointed arm,

. tending in opposite directions away to the needle arm and adaptedto engage a portion of the string and move the said portion of the string along the surface of the cutter bar.

' 14. In combination with a needle and a cutter bar of a knotting mechanism in a bundle wrapping and tyingmechanism, a table top having portions located one below the other and the cutter bar having a surface inclined to the said portions, the said portions extending from opposite sides Of'the said surface of the cutter bar.

15. In combination with a needle and a cutter bar of a knotting mechanism in a bundle wrapping and tying mechanism, a table top having portions located one below the other and inclined one relative to the other, and the cutter bar having a surface inclined to the said portions, the said portions extending from opposite sides of the said surface of the cutter bar.

16. In combination with a needle and a cutter bar of a knotting mechanism in a bundle wrapping and tying mechanism, a table top having portions located one below the other and inclined one relative to the other, and the cutter bar having a surface inclined to the said portions, the said portions extending from opposite sides of the said surface of the cutter bar, the table top also having two portions interconnecting the edges of the first named portions, and inclined relative to the first named portions and exfrom the said surface.

JOSEPH J. BACHMAYER. 

